TAMPA BAY: NOT TOO EARLY TO THINK OF ROSES; CASTANON MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN

By Mike Henry —-

A young person’s mind turns to many things this time of year (and, we can guarantee this 100 percent, you’re only as young as you feel).

“March Madness.” Spring training. The approach of the Masters. The NBA and NHL playoffs.

And, it almost goes without saying, the most exciting 2 minutes in sports.

Was it really 46 years ago that we slept outside the entrance to Churchill Downs playing Kentucky Derby trivia, while an unbeaten yet somewhat disrespected Seattle Slew enjoyed blissful dreams? Yeah, but we digress. The 2023 Run for the Roses is less than 11 weeks away, and “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points are the coin of the realm toward gaining a spot in the starting gate for the race.

(We’ll forgo the argument that the field should be restricted to fewer than 20 horses for at least the next few years, after Rich Strike won the 2022 Kentucky Derby at odds of 80-1).

Tampa Bay Downs will play its customary part in generating Derby fever on March 11 with the 43rd running of the Grade III, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, a mile-and-a-sixteenth main-track challenge that will award points to the top five finishers on a 50-20-15-10-5 scale.

While it remains too early to speculate on the makeup of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby field, it’s a virtual certainty the Festival Day program will leave hardboots and racing novices alike limp from excitement.

Five stakes are scheduled on the afternoon, including four graded events. The schedule also includes the Grade II, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward at a mile-and-an-eighth on the turf; the Grade III, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf; the Grade III, $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger for horses 4-and-upward at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main; and the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on the turf.

Call it the Oldsmar oval’s “Million Dollar payday,” with six or seven other races with attractive purse money thrown in for good measure.

With his victory in Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds, Angel of Empire vaulted to the top of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” standings with 54 points. The Brad Cox-trained colt may be following the same path taken two years ago by Cox’s Mandaloun, who finished second to Medina Spirit in the Run for the Roses and was elevated to first after the Bob Baffert-trained colt was disqualified for a drug violation in a case that might not have seen its last run through a courtroom.

Litigate, trainer Todd Pletcher’s colt who picked up 20 points for his Grade III Sam F. Davis victory here on Feb. 11, is in eighth place with 20 points. Here are the current top 20:

Angel of Empire, 54; Forte, 40; Instant Coffee, 32; Sun Thunder, 24; Two Phil’s, 23; Rocket Can, 20; Hit Show, 20; Litigate, 20; Curly Jack, 17; Blazing Sevens, 16; Arctic Arrogance, 16; Jace’s Road, 15; Red Route One, 13; Victory Formation, 10; Dubyuhnell, 10; Practical Move, 10; Lugan Knight, 10; Tapit’s Conquest, 10; General Banker, 9; Shadow Dragon, 8.

Trainer Eoin Harty’s colt Groveland, who earned 8 points for his Sam F. Davis runner-up finish, is not currently listed because he has yet to be nominated to the Triple Crown.

The Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will be contested May 6.

Meanwhile, trainer Gerald Bennett’s 3-year-old filly Dreaming of Snow, who upset 2022 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Wonder Wheel in the Feb. 11 Suncoast Stakes, is seventh in the Longines Kentucky Oaks standings with 20 points. Pretty Mischievous leads with 63, followed by Wonder Wheel with 48.

Castanon makes triumphant return. A year ago on this date, Jesus Castanon rode (then)-6-year-old gelding Chess Master to victory in the Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. With uncertainty surrounding Castanon’s expected return from a fractured left fibula incurred on Jan. 8, owner-trainer Kerri Raven turned to Antonio Gallardo to ride Chess Master in this year’s Turf Dash, with the Florida-bred repeating last year’s win.

Castanon, who turns 50 on March 4, proved to be a fast healer. After undergoing surgery by Dr. Anthony Infante of Brandon to insert a rod and three screws in the bone, Castanon was pronounced “ready to go” for today’s seventh race on Kitchen Fire, an 8-year-old gelding from Raven’s barn.

In storybook fashion, Castanon, whose career total of 2,683 victories includes the 2011 Preakness on Shackleford, rode Kitchen Fire to a 2-length victory from Imtakinittothebank in the 5 ½-furlong starter/optional claiming event.

Relatively speaking, the stakes weren’t that high financially. But Castanon admitted this one was special.

“I’m glad to be back on the team,” said the Mexico City product, who scored his 12th victory of the meet. “I was pretty pumped up today. Whenever you go through injuries like this, you’re a little nervous coming back, but once I got back on the horse it came back naturally.

“I have to thank Dr. Infante for helping me return so soon,” Castanon added.

Raven knew Castanon was his old self when she received a video message from Castanon undergoing “therapy.” It showed him vacuuming the house under the watchful eye of his wife, former jockey Rolanda Simpson.

“We’ve done very well together, and it’s great to have him back,” Raven said.”I didn’t even have to worry because he is just naturally light, fit and dedicated.”

“Party by the Paddock” is Saturday. Tampa Bay Downs is inviting college students with school IDs to participate in the fun and excitement of the “Sport of Kings” on Saturday in the Winner’s Terrace, while enjoying food deals, yard games and a social photo booth. A raffle will also be held. A valid state ID must be shown for students 21 and older desiring beer or alcohol.

Patrons with a college ID will receive free admission and a wristband enabling them to take part. The event is designed to introduce newcomers to racing while strengthening the passion of those already under racing’s spell.

Around the oval. Leading jockey Samy Camacho won two races today. He captured the first race on Woods Hole, a 4-year-old filly owned by Winner Circle Stables and trained by Greg Sacco. Woods Hole was claimed from the race for $6,250 by trainer Glenn Wismer for new owner Melody Michaels.

Camacho added the fifth on Got Em Thinking, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Juan D. Rodriguez and Jesus Rodriguez and trained by Dennis Ward. That winner was also claimed for $8,000 by trainer Mario Roberto Lopez for new owner San Lazaro Stud.

Thoroughbred racing continues Wednesday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:28 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.